Tooo Much NOISE!

This is how Spencer deals with the noise when the

decibel level gets way too high.

(No he is not listening to some soft soothing music, these are Brad's lawn mowing ear protection head phone things.) He is using it to block out the noise! He it too funny!!!!!!

This is what happens to your yard when youhave teenagers!

We woke up Saturday morning to this! This is about the 5th or 6 th time this has happened. Spencer is a bit annoyed by it but I told him it shows that our kid's friends like them. It is different from when we were teenagers when you did it to someone you didn't like, now you do it so someone you like! The toilet paper was one day and we came to rocks on the sidewalk on a different day. I think the same person did it all though.

Day 6 Trunk or Treat

We thought we had one more day but not so. Brad and Michelle were busy all day scalping lawns and so our original plan to go to the Museum of Science and Technology had to be postponed. They were working hard from 7:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. We did go to the ward trunk or treat and then Shannon and Brad went to a Halloween party at a friend's house afterwards. It was a really fun week. Bedtime was hard to make and we missed it by an hour or two each day but it was worth making the memories.

Day 5 was game night!

This night each child got to pick the game of their choice. Jenna chose Spiderman game (surprise surprise) We are playing it in the picture above. Rachel chose "Poor Kitty" A game where everyone sits in a circle and someone is the kitty cat. The cat has to crawl around and meow and try to get someone to laugh. The person who the cat goes up to has to pat the kitty's head and say "poor pussy" without laughing. It was pretty funny! Michelle chose scum, Shannon chose dominoes and Brad passed since it was getting late. He would have chosen Monopoly or Settlers. (The girls are glad we ran out of time) We had lots of candy and snacks to munch on and that was the highlight for some of them.. It was fun.

Day 4 ...Movie Night

We had a movie night and I went to the library and borrowed a few movies. Our choices were: 1. Fiddler of the Roof 2. Amazing Grace 3. Martian Child 4. The Final Season. It is dang hard to find a movie that both a 17 year old and 6 year old would both like as well as both a boy and girl would enjoy. Our final choice was Martian Child. It was a good Movie. They have watched all the others also and they were all good choices. We wold recommend each one.

Day 3...Are we having fun yet?!

It was ALMOST a ward party at tumbling last night! We watched Rachel in her class that starts at 5:00. She was so excited to have us all sitting there watching her. She kept looking out the window making sure we were watching.

Then when it was Jenna's class time, here came the Derricks, Laytons, Plowmans, Neeleys and Woods!

There were alot of kids running around. I'm sure everyone was wondering what the heck was going on.

Spencer, Ron and Bob all wore matching shirts for the events. They said they didn't plan it but.....I don't know!

Brad took the kids to sonic afterwards. Spencer and I went to a seminar on strengthening the family, this weeks lecture was finding peace. It was very good. Michelle missed the whole thing because she had ANOTHER game! Oh well, we'll see what tonight brings.

Shannon's new best friend!

This is Jahnel. Shan's new friend. She is such a cute girl. She is helping shannon to let go and have fun and stop worring what others will say. She lives close here in the neighborhood and they have "yearbook" together. We are glad shan found a fun friend!

Family Togetherness Week

Well, so far so good. We have made it thru two days of Family Togetherness week. My kids informed me that we are the ONLY family doing this. I said "no sir, I know Bishop Layton's family is doing it, Pres Riggs and Pres Derricks." They said "ok, then that makes the total up to 4 families." They are such TEENAGERS!

Well, Monday night we went to Michelle's softball game. Their team lost but Michelle scored 2 runs and got a couple of people out. She played first base. Then we came home, gulped down some dinner and wrote letters to the 6 missionaries that we know, 4 are nephews. Two more nephews will be going out within 2 more months.

Last night we went on a treasure hunt. We got mapquest directions to different locations. We started from home and traveled to Imax at AZ Mills Mall where we watched a 3-D movie on the Grand Canyon. It was made by some tree hugger people. The scenery was amazing and there were some exciting times going down the rapids. The kids all loved it. Spencer made sure they realized that we didn't agree with the "tree hugger" parts. We also used some coupons so it wasn't too expensive.

From there we ended up at Costco for the $1.50 hot dog - drink combo for dinner. From there we went to the dollar store and they all got $1.08 in change to spend on whatever they liked. I was really surprised that the older kids were just as excited as the younger ones. This is what they bought.

Brad used his dollar plus some of his hard earned money to buy glow sticks. He plans on using

them at Halloween or on a date.

Shannon bought, what else......make up....lip gloss.

Michelle got a rubiks cube.

( I don't know how long it will last since it is from the $1 store)

Rachel got ... make up. (She is trying to be like her big sistes.)

I told her she could only wear it when she was home playing.

Jenna..... silly nut that is so NOT like her sisters, got a dart gun! YES!!

I was so sad I forgot to take the camera so I could get a picture of everyone in their 3-D glasses. Shucks! So I'll post the rest of the week's activities later. Tonight we get to go watch Jenna and Rachel in their tumbling class. (You know how excited Brad and Shannon are about that!) he he

FHE Fun

We copied this idea from Andi to just have fun in FHE. It was pretty funny watching Brad try to do ANYTHING with the makeup let alone try and put it on shannon, he did get pretty into it though. Rachel did Michelle and then they switched then Jenna and I did each other. The kids had a good laugh and we made a memory.

Big Bad Brad

I can't beileve I have a senior. Time has gone by so fast. It just seems like a few years ago we got that call to come pick him up. Gosh, before I know it, he will be out the door serving a mission and then on to his own life. He sure isn't perfect but he is a great young man! He has to be pretty amazing to be able to put up with 4 sisters!

Finally Friends

It's taken a good many years but my two oldest girls are FINALLY friends! I guess it took being teenagers to do it. They are growing into such beautiful young ladies! The talk about boys and hair and clothes and such. It's fun to listen.

The things we do for little sisters!

Jenna wanted the girls to ride on the roller coaster with her. So being the great sisters they are, Michelle and Rachel joined in on the ride and had they were all giggling and laughing in no time! Rachel even pretended to be scared:)

Shelly is playing softball!

Shelly is on the softball team at school and she absolutely loves it! She started as a bench warmer for the first game or so an then moved to outfield, up to shortstop then on to first base. When they finally saw what a great player she is they started using her. Being small doesn't hold her back at all!

Good job Shell!!

See what too many teenagers does to a 6 year old?

Jenna loves being like her big brother and sisters. She immiates silly dance moves and copies the "cool things" they say. She has started say "what's up homie M" (m stands for Mom). She substitutes whatever letter for whomever she is talking to. Here she is dressed up in Brad's hat, glasses, keys around the neck and you can't see in the picture but she has his BIG shoes on too!She is truly a nut!

Shannon is finally 15!!!

We have been waiting for this day for um.....365 days! She finally made it, now..she can't wait till the BIG 16! Only three hundred and fifty something left to go. She had a fun day and that was even without a party. I took her some balloons and In-n-Out for her lunch. She had to leave the balloons in the office but she didn't care. I offered to take them home and she refused because she wanted the attention of bringing them home on the bus. Silly girl! She is turning into a beautiful young woman. I am so proud of her and the many changes she had made in her life in the last year. She has become a great example to her younger sisters. I love you Shanny!